Edwin f



UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.,

EDWIN F. DAVIS, OFSENEOA, KANSAS, `ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES J. NESBITT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379.939, dated March 27, 1888- VApplication filed January 10, 1888. Serial No. 260.302. (No model.)

To aZZ whom# may concern.:

Be it knownthat' I, EDWIN F. DAvIs, of Seneca, Nemaha con nty, State of Kansas, have invented a new and. useful Improvement in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to that class of mailbag fastenings in which a series of locking devices are adapted to be locked or released in a single operation.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and sure fastening which can be easily understood and operated with facility.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the peculiar features and combination of part-s more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims. Y

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a front view of my complete device; Fig. 2, a sectional view through m w of Fig. 1, dotted lines representing the parts in unlocked adjustment; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the bag unlocked, one side of the cap being thrown back, the operatinglever raised, and bolts withdrawn; Fig. 4, a detail section of the eccentric and collar, and Fig. 5 a modification of the same.

The reference-lettera indicates the sides of the mouth b of the bag, and c the cap-piece adapted to iit over and close the same. Upon the front Hap, fi, of the cappiece are journaled therook-shafts d in the boxes e. These shafts are connected together byabow-lever, f, provided with a swiveled hasp, g, which hasp passes over a central staple, h. 'This staple is rigidly secured to the opposite flap, j, and passes through perforations in both sides of the mouth of the bag, and thence through and beyond said front ap. in the ordinary manner, as will be seen in Fig. 3. The back flap, j, is also provided with a series of staples, k, having their prongs Z lying in a horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 2. These staples are adapted to pass entirely through the cappiece and sides of the mouth of the bag, like the mai nv central staple, h, and are engaged by v the corresponding series of locking-bolts m,

secured by means of eollarsn to a series of eccentrics, o, rigidly secured tothe rock-shafts operation.

d. The shields p are provided with guides ors. eyes g, which confine the lower ends of thebolts in the proper adjustment for locking.. The peripheries of the eccentrics, as will be '55' observed in Fig. 4, are provided with grooves g r, into which the bolt-carrying collars n loosely fit, and are thereby always retained in the proper place. The recesses r in the front flap receive the eccentrics when the bolts are with, 6o drawn, as will be seen in Fig. 3. Any suitable padlock, s, may be used for securing the hasp g over the main central staple to hold the bollsin locked adjustment.

The'construction of my device having been 65 set forth, I will now proceed to describe its.

In locking the bag the cap-piece is placedover the mouth, so that the staples secured to the back flap thereof will project through the front of the bag. rIhe front iiap 7o is then brought down over the projecting ends of the staples which pass through `the recesses t. The lever fis next brought down, so that the hasp g will pass over the projecting end of the main central staple, h, after which the padlock is applied and the bag locked.

In turning down the lever the rock-shafts d are given a partial rotation, which throws the larger portion of the eccentrics outward and downward, and the bolts carried by the col- 8o lars thereon are accordingly forced downward and through the eyes of the staples k. In unlocking the bag this operation is reversed. Thus it will be observed that the'rotations of the rock-shafts impart a reciprocating movement to the lockingbolts inthe locking and unlocking operation.,

It is evident that one or more rock-shafts, eccentrics, and bolts can be used in carrying out the operation of my device, and that nu- 9o merous slight changes such as would suggest themselves to a skilled mechaniccould be resorted to 'without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention; hence I wish it understood that Ido not confine myself to the precise construction herein shown,but consider` myself entitled to all such variations as come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I 4claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters roo vided with one or more eccentrica having one one or more staples secured to the bag and en- Y.

gaged by said bolt or bolts, substantially as described. v

2. In a mail-bag fastening, a rock-shafthaving one or more locking-bolts connected thereto and reciproeated thereby, in combination with one or more staples secured to the bag and engaged by said bolt or bolts, and a lever for operating said rock-shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a mail-bag fastening, \a Hap provided with a rock-shaft having eccentrics, and recesses to receive the same, in combination with locking-bolts connected to said eccentrics,and staples secured to the bag and engaged by said bolt or bolts, substantially as described.

4. In a mail-bag fastening, a rock-shaft provided with eccentrics and locking-bolts connectedthereto, in combination with an operating-lever and staples extending through the bag, in the manner and for the purpose speciy ed.

5. In a mailbag fastening, the combination of a rock-shaft provided with eccentrics, locking-bolts connected with said eecentrics, sta.- ples with which said bolts engage, shields surrounding said staples. and the bolt-guides, all arranged and adapted to operate as described.

6. In combination with a mail-bag, rockshafts provided with eccentrics having grooves in their peripheries, collars fitting withinsaid grooves, bolts attached to said collars, staples with which said bolts engage, shields surrounding the staples, guides upon said shields, a bowlever connecting said shafts, said lever being provided with a swiveled hasp, all arranged and adapted to operate as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN F. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

S. S. MoREHoUsE, J. C. HIGDON. 

